Starting circuit for vapor electric devices



June 8,1937. L, F, BlRD 2,082,939

STARTING CIRCUIT FOR VAPOR ELECTRIC DEVICES Filed May 23, 1956 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 ATTORN EY June 8, 1937.

L. F. BIRD 2,082,939

STARTING CIRCUIT FOR VAPOR ELECTRIC DEVICES Filed May 23, 19,36 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 ATTORNEY Patented a... s, 1937 umrsn STATES STARTING CIRCUT FOR VAPOR ELECTRIC EVIC Lester F. Bird, Newark, N. 1., assignor to Hanovia Chemical and Manufacturing Company, Newark, N. L, a corporation of New Jersey Application May 23,

6 Claims.

This invention relates to starting means for gas or vapor filled discharge tubes operating on low voltages. such as the common supply voltages furnished for home use. The difficulties in starting this type of tube are well known and are due to static charges which collect on the walls of such tubes and prevent the static fields produced by application of potentialto the electrodes from being effective at the opposite ends of the tube, thus 10 preventing a discharge. If the potential at the electrodes is increased s'ufliciently these static charges are overcome and a discharge is started. For low voltage tubes some kind of a starting device is essential.

It is an object of my invention to provide a new and greatly improved starting device for these lamps that is positive in operation andsimple to operate. In fact the user of the device may be entirely unaware that it isincorporated in the lamp at all, since it may be made a part of the start- .ng switch and the act that turns the power on the lamp also operates the starting device automatically. r

A further object of the invention is the provi sion of means for automatically shocking the discharge tube with a: surge of relatively high frequency electricity at elevatedvoltages after the power is applied to the tube. The method of securing the surge is unique and will be hereinafter described in detail with reference to the attached drawing.

These and other advantageous objects which will later appear; are accomplished by the ,sim-

ple and practical construction and arrangement of parts hereinafter described and exhibited in the accompanying drawing, forming part hereof, and in which: V I

Fig. 1 is a wire diagram of a circuit manually storing gas or vapor filled discharge tubes in ac 40 cordance With my invention, and

Fig. 2 isa wire diagram oia circuit for auto matically storing gas or vapor filled discharge tubes in accordance withmy invention.

Fig. 3 las. diagram of a circuit similar to that shown in .Fig. 1, having an operating switch which has incorporated therein a conzact device for connecting and disconnecting a capacitor after current has been applied to the tube circuit.

Referring to the drawings,-in Fig. 1' there is shown the circuit of adischarge tube having a stabilizing reactance I, a dischargetube 2-, a capacitor 3 and an intermittent contact 4. The contact 4 can be constructed in a number of ways; but I have found it highly satisfactory and simpie to incorporate it as a part of the operating.

1936, Serial No. s1,412

switch so that after the circuit is closed and power is applied to the discharge tube, the intermittent contact functions for several operations and then stops. When contact is made at 4,

the capacitor 3- is connected across the discharge tube, and draws a small current from the supply voltage through the stabilizing reactance I. When the contact 4 is broken again, this current is interrupted which causes a potential across the reactance, which is impressed across the discharge tube, and always at a time when there is potential across the electrode. This potential is of relatively high voltage and frequency and is of suflicient magnitude to ignite the discharge in the tube.

I have made a number of different arrangements of the contact 4, some of which are purely mechanical, and some are combined mechanical and electrical. The simplest one is a rotating segment attached to the central post of a '1 otating type'of snap switch such that a series of contacts results as the switch is operated in the usual manner. I have also made several forms in which the operation of the contacts is produced by electrical magnets and mechanical contacts. Both types have proved entirely satisfactory.

In Fig. 2 is shown a modified'form of the invention in whichthe intermittent contact is producedby a form of electrical buzzer. In this form of the invention a stabilizing reactance 5 is connected in series with the discharge tube 6. The tube 6 is connected to a condenser 9, and to a contact II which is adaptedyto engage the armature l3 of an electrical magnet l4 which is in parallel with a condenser IS. The coil oi. the electrical magnet is connected to' the reactance 5. The reactance 5 is also connected through a condenser It to a contact II, which is also adapted to engage the armature I! when the electrical magnet is ener ized. In operation, the power for the electric" magnet is secured from two sources, since it is essential that the contact mechanism lie idle whenthe discharge tube is burning. ,As soon as the power is applied current can flow from the supply at 8, through the reactance 5, through the coil of the electric magnet I l to the vibrating arm l3, through the contact II and a capacitor 9, and then through the conductor I back to the other side of the supply. Current through this path energizes the electric magnet to raise the armature It, to break contact at l I, and make contact at l2. However, this motion interrupts the cur- -rent through the electrical magnet, so that the armature ll immediately iallsback into engage- W is turned oil. his foregoing disclosure is to descriptive and illustrative only, and not as re- 1s striotive or limitative oi the invention, of whichegg clatimasnewanddesiretosecurebylettersraten is: v v

1. An electrical circuit including a vapor ililed electric discharge tube, a stabilizing impedance 26 in arise with said tube. a capacitor capable of withstanding the applied potential across the discharge tube, and an intermittent contact device which makes several contacts alter the application 0! power through the circuit of the dis- 80 charge tube for connecting and disconnecting the capacitor across the discharge device.

2. An electrical circuit involving a gaseous or vapor iilled discharge tube with its associated staliliilng impedance, a capacitor capable 0! with- 35 standing the impressed.potential across the diseharge tube, and acontact device which intermittently connects and disconnects the'capacitor across the discharge tube, said-contact making device being incorporated as an integral part oi a. the power control switch and operating in conjunction with the movements oi the switch.

8. In an electricalcircuit, a vapor-illleddischarge tube in series with a control impedance, an electromagnet having one terminal oi the soleas paid thereoi connected to the junction at said tube and impedance, said electromagnet having an armaturein series with the solenoid thereon,

aflrst capacitor arranged to be connected in paruntil the burner is extinguished orthe beregarded'as Having thus described my invention, what plied to the circuit.

allel with a toss b the armature whenthe 1 solenoid is de-energised, and a second capacitor to be connected in parallel with said pedance when the solenoid is energized.

4. man electrical circuit, avapor-illled-dise tube in series with a control impedance, a capacitor capable oi withstandingthe impressed potential across the discharge tube. a contacting device for connectingand disconnecting the capacitor across the discharge tube for several operations arte'r power is applied to' the discharge tube, said contacting device comprising an electromagnet having a solenoid and armature connected in series and one terminal of the solenoid connecwd to the Junction 0! the tube and impedance, said armature connecting the capacitor so that the magnet receives operating current irom aorossthedlschargetubeuntiladischargeis initiated,and said armature being arranged to cmnect the elec'tromagnet in parallel with said impedance alter the initiation of the discharge so that the magnet receives power irom the pctential, across the impedance for stabilization oi-the arc. v

6, An electrical circuit comprising a vapor nlled discharge tube, an associated impedance operating in conjunction therewith. a power control switch for connecting the discharge tube circuit to a source oi power, a capacitor capable oi withstanding the potential across-the discharge tube, and a contact making device incorporated within the mechanismipi the power control switchwhich automatically connects the capacitoracrosstbeterminalsoithe discharge tube aiter electric power has bee'napplied to the tube circuit.

6. An electrical circuit comprising a gaseous or vapor arc device, a source of electric power, a

stabilizing impedancega capacitor capable oi withstanding the applied potential across'the arc device, and a contact making device incorporated within the power control switch-so that normal operation oi the power control switch also operates to connect andjto disconnect the capacitor acres the arc device after power has been ap LISTER l". BIRD. 

